Education and educational sciences

In addition to advising individuals and groups in various areas of life, the main task of educational scientists is conceptual work in training and continuing education. For this purpose, they develop and test theories as well as target group-specific offers. They also become practically active themselves in educational, teaching and counseling work (including the administration or management of corresponding institutions).

The program provides a basic understanding of pedagogical thinking, issues and methodological principles as well as the social prerequisites of education.

In advanced studies, the focus is on, among other things, quantitative research methods, learning processes and the organization and planning of educational processes. Depending on the desired specialization, such as early childhood education, rehabilitation and special education, business education or human resources development, adult education, education management and further education, students also acquire appropriate professional-related skills.

The teacher training course also usually includes educational content and, in addition to didactic principles, also deals with educational processes and educational systems (see “Teacher training in the federal states”). The field of social work/social education/social work is also related (see “Law, social sciences”)

Technical colleges and universities offer bachelor's and master's degree programs in education and educational sciences.

Possible course titles include “Pedagogy”, “Childhood Education”, “Educational Science”, “Education and Educational Science” or “Educational Science”. Courses of study that deal with specific fields of action are called, for example, “Education management”, “Early childhood Education”, “Adventure and Experiential Education” and “Media Education”. Degree programs entitled “Vocational and Business Education”, “Engineering Education” or “Adult Education” focus on educational work with adults, while “Rehabilitation Education”, “Special Education” or “Remedial Education” take into account both medical and developmental psychology aspects.

In the master's program, specialization or deepening and profile development takes place through research and application-related modules such as educational theory and Educational processes, international educational research, adult education, media didactics, migration and intercultural pedagogy, extracurricular youth education, early childhood pedagogy, cultural pedagogy, educational and learning consulting, educational economics and planning, organizational development.

In the bachelor's program, the basics of educational science are taught through modules such as basic questions and basic concepts of educational science, educational, upbringing and learning processes and theories, media and educational communication, lifelong learning and lifelong education, methods of empirical educational and social research, qualitative and quantitative Data analysis in educational and social research, educational psychology, quality management in training and further education. The curriculum also includes content from related sciences, such as psychology and social sciences.

Vocational Pedagogy also offers modules for vocational orientation, didactics of vocational training, introduction to vocational pedagogy, and development of vocational training institutions.

Cultural and Media Education also teaches the basics of cultural and media education, cultural sociological and intercultural basics, and theoretical and historical aspects of cultural and media studies.

In Rehabilitation Education or Curative Education, for example, psychodiagnosis and intervention, psychological and sociological foundations of rehabilitation, and law are important subjects.

At universities of applied sciences, two to three months of practical work in schools and adult education institutions, social education, in-company training systems, etc. are part of the course.

The fields of activity of educational scientists in the education and training system generally lie outside of general education schools. There are job opportunities, for example, in:

• Adult education institutions

• Facilities for people with disabilities

• Advice facilities, e.g. parenting advice or pregnancy conflict advice

• Leisure, recreation and sports centers

• Retirement homes, educational institutions for the elderly

• Educational institutions in cities and districts, e.g. youth centers

• Educational providers (e.g. application training, coaching, professional integration, support of vocational preparation measures, teaching)

• Daycare centers and preschool educational institutions.

• The main tasks of curative, rehabilitation and special education are in the area of early intervention and in advising and supporting people with disabilities. They work, for example, in children's homes, school preparatory institutions, special education day care centers, kindergartens and homes, in workshops and - dormitories, in educational counseling centers, in child and adolescent psychiatric clinics and in rehabilitation centers.

• Business, vocational and engineering educators find employment in vocational (technical) schools or take on educational tasks in companies and non-governmental institutions, such as the planning and organization of in-company training and further education, in-company training and human resources, etc Adult education, educational administration and consulting or personnel and organizational development.